Cam Catering Butchers in Dursley, Gloucestershire, is to invest £600,000 in the expansion of their premises in order to meet Food Standards Agency (FSA) requirements.

The butchers, who trade from the Draycott Industrial Estate, have acquired the next-door unit, which will enable them to gain a European Food Service Inspection accreditation from the FSA, which stipulates that butchers must have separate rooms for the preparation of meat. Rooms must also be refrigerated to 10°C or below, and separate fridges must be used for poultry, hanging and boxed meat.

The company already provides wholesale to local amenities such as pubs and restaurants, but it is already supplying premium nursing homes, nurseries and schools as a result of the expansion. Co-directors Tony and Daniel Gabb also expect the firm’s turnover to increase by 15% to £1.4m following the expansion.

“We are proud to supply chefs who have been sourcing their produce from us for 20 years, as well as new customers and sectors through our expansion. With increased sales, we hope to employ another three staff and an apprentice through the National Apprenticeship Service. The support we have received from our relationship managers has helped us to move the company forward and it couldn’t have been done without them,” said Tony Gabb. “Sustainability and quality are important factors for our business and something that customers appreciate. We make our profit from the land, so it is important we give back to it, shown through our membership to the Quality Standard Mark for beef and lamb and the Red Tractor schemes,” he added.

Lloyds Bank commercial banking will lend the firm £200,000 as a commercial loan for the expansion. Rod Smith, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, explained: “When Tony approached us, we could see the business’ potential. Cam Catering Butchers provides many businesses in Dursley with its products and, no doubt, will continue to grow.”